Portable pipe cleaning device



Aug. 27, 1957 A. J. LEVINE PORTABLE PIPE CLEANING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14,1955 INVTOR. (Ya 07a Jlepm/e,

United States Patent n PORTABLE PIPE CLEANING DEVICE Aaron J. Levine,Chicago, Ill.

Application February 14, 1955, Serial No. 488,084

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-104.3)

This invention relates to portable pipe cleaning device for cleaningdrains and has for its principal object the provision of a new andimproved device of this kind.

It is a main object of the invention to provide an improved portabletool for rotating and simultaneously feeding longitudinally a flexiblesewer rod for cleaning drains.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary device forhousing and driving a long flexible sewer rod, from which device the rodis payed out as needed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a high quality device ofthis kind that can be manufactured at a cost low enough to render thedevice available to owners of small buildings such as homes, motels, andapartment buildings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sewer rod that is simpleto adjust and operate, thereby to enable a handy man to clean out aplugged drain without having to call a plumber.

Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will beapparent from the detailed description and claims which follow,reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferredembodiment of the invention is shown by way of example and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially along the line 33of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the frame taken along the line 44 ofFig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Flexible sewer rods consisting of a tightly coiled steel wire, carryingat its forward end a cutting element, are commonly used to clearblocking obstructions from drainpipes leading from sinks, lavatories,and the like. Such devices are worked through the pipe by rotating thesewer rods and in the prior art of which I am aware are numerous devicesfor accomplishing this purpose.

Sewer rods of this type are provided in lengths of fifteen (15) feet andupwards and generally frusto-conical casings have been provided toencase the rod in coiled condition. In certain instances the casing hasbeen rotatably mounted upon a base adapted to rest upon the floor andthe rod has been run through a propelling unit by which it is rotatedand payed out of the casing as required in operation in the drain. Inother instances, the casing has been supported upon a suitable handleand the sewer rod rotated by rotating the casing around the axis of therod as a center.

The present invention improves upon these former devices by providing aself-contained unit consisting of a framework in which a tubular shaftis journaled. A casing is supported upon this shaft to enclose theportion of the sewer rod not being used. A collar on the shaft containsa set screw threaded through the collar and the shaft into engagementwith the rod to secure the rod with respect to the tubular shaft. Abevel gear fixed upon v 2,803,843 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 the shaft ismeshed with a bevel gear fixed upon the framework and a crank providedto rotate the latter bevel gear, thereby to rotate the shaft, sewer rodand casing as required.

A pistol grip handle extends downwardly from the shaft and is locatednear the center of gravity of the device so that the device may beconveniently supported in one hand while. the other hand is employed torotate the rod as required to clear the drain.

In order to permit manufacture of the device at a price low enough torender it available for use in homes, motels and small apartmentbuildings, the handle is cast, preferably die cast, in such a manner asto require a minimum of machining in the fabrication of the device.

As will be seen in the drawings, the device of the present inventionconsists of a base unit 10 containing at its opposite endssemi-cylindrical bosses 11 which face in the same direction. The base 10also contains a centrally located semi-cylindrical boss 12 which facesin the direction opposite to the facing of the bosses 11. Bosses 11 and12 thus form journals by which a tubular shaft 13 is supported in thedevice.

Mounted upon one end of the tubular shaft 13 by a hub 14 is a generallyfrusto-conical casing 15 in which the flexible sewer rod 16 is coiled,this rod extending through the hub 14 and tubular shaft 15 andtherebeyond as needed. The projecting end of the rod 16 carries acutting tool, not shown since it forms no part of the present invention.

A collar 17 encircles the shaft 13 and carries a set screw 18 that isthreaded through the collar and shaft into engagement with the rod 16 tolock that rod with respect to the shaft. A suitable handle 19 isprovided to facilitate operation of the set screw 18.

Fixed upon the shaft 13 is a bevel gear 20', and mounted upon theframework is a second bevel gear 21 secured thereon in convenientmanner, such as by a. stud screw 22 threaded into a portion 23 of theboss 12. A crank 24 is fixed upon the bevel gear 21 to permit anoperation of the crank to rotate the gears and shaft 13, the casing 15,and the sewer rod 16.

The framework 10 also carries housing members 25 and 26 by which thegears 20 and 21 are partly encased and protected.

Depending below the framework 10, with its axis at right angles to theaxis of shaft 13, is a pistol grip handle 26 which is locatedsubstantially in alignment with the central boss 12 of the framework andnear the center of gravity of the device when a substantial portion ofthe rod 16 is coiled within the casing 15.

In operation of the device, the set screw 18 is loosened and sewer rod16 payed out of the device and fed into the drainpipe as far as it willgo. The set screw 18 is then tightened and crank 24 is operated torotate the sewer rod and pressure longitudinally of the rod issimultaneously applied through the handle 26. When the rod has thus beenadvanced as far as possible, set screw 18 is loosened and more rod payedout, the process continuing until the obstructions in the drainpipe areencountered and reamed out by the cutting head on the forward end of thesewer rod.

The construction as shown lends itself to the fabrication of a highquality serviceable tool that can be marketed at a price low enough tomake it attractive to home owners and the like, who are thereby enabledto clear plugged drains themselves without having to go to the expenseof calling in a plumber. The arrangement of opposed semicylindricalsurfaces in bosses permits casting the journals by which the shaft isjournaled in the device and eliminates the necessity of machining thebearing surfaces, obviously reducing the cost of fabricating the device.

While I have chosen to illustrate my invention by showing and describinga preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example as thereare many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilledinthe art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thuscomplied with the statutes and shown and described apreferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and desire tohave protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hand held and operated device for cleaning drains comprising atubular shaft; a frnsto-conical container having a hub fixed on one endof said shaft; a flexible rod coiled within said container andprojecting through said shaft; a frame; a pair of semi-cylindricalbosses at opposite ends of said frame, one of which abuts said hub; athird semi-cylindrical boss on said frame between and disposedoppositely of .said pair of bosses, said bosses together journaling saidshaft in the frame; a bevel gear fixed on said shaftadjacent said thirdboss; a second bevel gear journaled on said frame and meshed with saidfirst bevel gear; a crank fixed on said second bevel gear rotatable torotate said shaft, container and rod; a collar on said shaft abuttingthe other one of said pair of bosses;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,276,496 Crosley Aug. 20, 1918 1,629,881 Penson May 24, 1927 1,790,803Francis Feb. 3, 1931 1,936,119 Sachs Nov. 21, 1933 2 345,823 RappaportJune 17,1941

FOREIGN PATENTS 3,517 Great Britain 1914 10,662 Great Britain 1911

